The Chincoteague Police Department had its 15 minutes of fame last summer after releasing a video as part of the trending #LipSyncBattle.

Still, the department is known locally for much more than its officers' lip syncing talents. The Chincoteague Police since then — and as they do each year — has sponsored several major charitable events aimed at helping the less fortunate residents of the resort town.

"We don't want to be known as, we are only there to arrest people and write people tickets," said Chief Randy Mills.

Chincoteague police officers chose to lip sync to the Imagine Dragon's song "Whatever it Takes," after they first debated other song choices, ranging from Def Leppard's "Pour Some Sugar on Me" to Big & Rich's "Save a Horse."

The 9:22 minute video has gotten more than 73,000 views to date on YouTube, since it was released during Pony Penning week in July.

The department, with 10 officers and dispatchers, is known in Chincoteague and surrounding areas not only for its law enforcement role in the community but also for its charitable works.

The police department's major fundraiser is its annual Poker Run for the Kids, held the second Saturday in September. This year marked the 14th annual event.

The event includes a block party after the ride, with the party typically taking place on a blocked-off Main Street.

Motorcyclists start the run in southern Northampton County at Sting-Ray's Restaurant, at the Cape Center near Cape Charles, and head north to Chincoteague.

"For their registration fee, they get a meal and door prizes. Then we have a live auction ... We have a live band," Mills said.

This year, despite rainy weather that moved the auction and festivities inside Don's Seafood, riders also had the chance to ride a mechanical bull, which was moved under the pavilion at the nearby park.

The Poker Run raises funds which the police department uses for charity year around — and it's not just the riders; many local businesses also donate to the fund.

"It pays for lunches, it pays for scholarships," Mills said, noting the department gives scholarships each year to several graduating seniors at Chincoteague High School.

The money also comes in handy to help if residents are burned out of their homes, or to help out the local food pantry.

"We did a lot of turkeys" for the food pantry this Thanksgiving, Mills said.

Sgt. Tyler Greenly, Officer Jeffrey Stevens and Dispatcher Benjy Holloway show off their beards, grown to raise funds for a cancer patient on Chincoteague, Virginia in November 2018.(Photo: Chincoteague Police Department image)

Some of the money also goes to buy toys for Christmas for some of the island's less-fortunate children — although with many toys being donated to the drive, these days officers "only have to shop to try to fill special needs" like clothing, including coats and shoes, for recipients.

Additionally, a Toy Run was held Dec. 1, with registration being the donation of a new toy for the police department's Christmas toy drive. Bikers met at Walmart in Onley and rode to Chincoteague, where they were served a light lunch at Don's Seafood.

"Thank you to all who attended today! We got a lot of GREAT Toys!! Representatives from Hogs and Heroes Foundation Inc. MD-8, Chincoteague American Legion Post 159 Riders and Blue Knights Virginia XXI Motorcycle Club were in attendance. Thank you to Tommy and staff at Don's Seafood Market & Restaurant for the great soup/salad/sandwhich lunch, it was tasty! Thank you and Merry Christmas!" the department posted on Facebook after the Toy Run.

By mid-December, the entire Chincoteague Town Office complex was brimming with donated toys, including a stack nearly hiding Dispatch Supervisor Amy Lewis at her desk, and another pile of playthings filling the mayor's office.

A poster advertises the 14th annual Poker for the Kids on Chincoteague, Virginia.(Photo: Submitted image)

"The people of Chincoteague love to help out," Mills said.

People in need apply to receive the toys and other items for Christmas.

"We put together a big bag full of toys that are appropriate for the kids that they have," along with clothing, Mills said.

Recipients come by to pick up the gifts in time to give their children a Merry Christmas.

This year, for the third year, the police department also held Cookies with Santa, where children could come meet with Santa Claus at the police station. This year, Mrs. Claus accompanied Santa.

Families take photographs of their children with Santa and "We send them with a toy and a cookie," Mills said.

Dispatcher Benjy Holloway looks at some of the hundreds of donated toys filling offices at the Chincoteague Town Office complex in Chincoteague, Virginia on Monday, Dec. 10, 2018. Staff photo by Carol Vaughn

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Another charitable effort the department undertook this fall was Beards for Lisa, which raised more than $1,300.

The department's usual grooming policy was waived to allow officers to grow beards to raise money for Lisa Kambarn, a cancer patient on Chincoteague.

"Last year, we did the No-Shave November," a national drive to raise funds and awareness for cancer, said dispatcher Benjy Holloway, who also serves as social media liaison for the department.

"This year, a couple of the officers decided that maybe we should do a local charity," he said.

Each of the nine participating department members donated $50 per month for October, November and December for the privilege of having a beard — and residents also could sponsor officers by donating to the fundraiser.

Another new addition to the department's community relations efforts this year was a fall Senior Luncheon, which dozens of Chincoteague senior citizens attended on Thursday, Nov. 15, at Don's Seafood Restaurant.

The police department in the past has held a similar luncheon each March.

"But we wanted to try to step it up, so this year we did a fall luncheon, too," said Mills.

Don's Seafood is a willing volunteer to help out several of the police department's charitable events, including the luncheons and the Poker Run, for which Tommy Clark provides a band to play at a block party after the motorcycle ride.